AMERICAN These dogs originally came to America from
our British forefathers. After breeding them in America, they became the
American Pit Bull Terrier.

PIT refers to where the dogs fought. The fighting
pits were small and usually only contained the two owners/handlers, and
maybe a "referee." When necessary, owners would have to pull
the dogs apart. If a dog redirected its aggression on a human and bit
its handler, it was killed. By using this method, breeders and owners
intended to breed dogs that did not direct aggression toward humans.

BULL refers to the early Bulldog from England. These
dogs' early job was baiting bulls for the butcher. This later became sport,
and when that was deemed inhumane, owners took their dogs to
the pits and turned the dogs on each other.

TERRIER refers to the Black-and-Tan Terrier and/or the
English White Terrier with which the early Bulldog was crossed. As you
may know, terriers are known for their high activity level, tenacity,
etc. Owners who wanted their dogs to fight (and win) wanted to breed in
this “feistiness.”

Please note that this article refers to the American Pit Bull Terrier as recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Assocation (ADBA).The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which have a similar history. Many breeds of dogs are now erroneously called "pit bulls" such as Presa Canarios, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Cane Corsos, and more.